How long after losing job can you file for unemployment in Washington - timing questions

You can file your initial claim immediately after losing your job - there's no waiting period to submit your application to Washington ESD. The sooner you file, the better because your benefit year starts from when you file, not when you lost your job. Don't wait!

Your coworker is confusing the filing timeline with the waiting week. Washington ESD eliminated the waiting week in 2020, so you can file immediately and start receiving benefits right away if approved. The key is to file your initial claim as soon as possible after job loss.

I had the same confusion when I got let go in March. Tried calling Washington ESD for days but could never get through. Finally used Claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent who confirmed I should have filed immediately. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works - basically calls for you until they reach someone.

file asap, like tomorrow morning if you can. i waited 3 days after getting fired and kicked myself for it

The Washington ESD system is so broken that it doesn't matter when you file because they'll probably lose your application anyway. I filed immediately and my claim got stuck in adjudication for 2 months. MONTHS! Meanwhile bills are piling up and they act like it's no big deal.

There's actually no legal deadline for filing unemployment in Washington, but practically speaking you want to file within the first few days. Your benefit year is 52 weeks from when you file your initial claim, so delaying just shortens your potential benefit period.

Same thing happened to me, got laid off and everyone had different advice about timing. I ended up filing 5 days later and everything worked out fine, but wish I'd done it sooner just for peace of mind.

Also make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file - SSN, dates of employment, reason for separation, employer contact info. Washington ESD will verify everything with your employer so accuracy is crucial.

One thing people don't realize is that even if you file immediately, you still need to complete your weekly claim certifications to actually receive payments. Filing the initial claim just establishes your eligibility - the weekly claims are what trigger payments.

To directly answer your question: there's no minimum waiting period to file for Washington ESD unemployment after job loss. You can and should file immediately. The old one-week waiting period was eliminated in 2020 and hasn't returned. Don't let anyone tell you to wait.

I remember when my dad got laid off in the 90s he had to wait a week before filing. Times have changed but a lot of older workers still think that rule exists. Definitely file right away now.

Also worth noting that even if your employer contests your claim, filing immediately is still the right move. The adjudication process can take weeks, so getting it started ASAP is crucial.

Should file" immediately - yeah right. I filed immediately and 8 weeks later'I m still waiting for my first payment. The system is completely broken and timing'doesn t matter when they'can t process claims properlyanyway.

Bottom line: file today if you haven't already. Don't overthink the timing - sooner is always better than later with Washington ESD claims.

Remember that your first weekly claim will be for the week you file, so if you file on Wednesday you can only claim Wednesday through Sunday of that week. Another reason to file early in the week if possible.

filed mine 2 days after getting laid off and had no problems. don't stress about the exact timing just get it done

For anyone still struggling to reach Washington ESD by phone, I really recommend checking out Claimyr. After wasting days trying to call, they got me connected in under an hour. Made the whole process so much less stressful.

Final answer for OP: File your Washington ESD unemployment claim immediately after job loss. There is no waiting period and delaying only hurts you. The benefit year starts when you file, not when you lost your job, so time is literally money in this case.

wish someone had told me this when i got fired last year. waited almost a week because i thought there was some kind of cooling off period or something lol

One last thing - make sure you file your weekly claims consistently even if your initial claim is still being processed. Missing weekly claim deadlines can cause payment delays even after approval.